There are over 600 breeds of ornamental pigeons worldwide, and my country boasts its own unique and diverse system, with approximately 200 different species according to incomplete statistics. Regarding the question of which ornamental pigeons are most suitable for keeping, today we've compiled a list of ten easy-to-raise breeds for your reference, including the Black Jade-Winged Pigeon, the Chinese Spotted Pigeon, the Peacock Pigeon, the Chinese Blue Pigeon, the Somersault Pigeon, the Black Soap Pigeon, and the Nun Pigeon. Let's learn about these adorable pigeons together!
Nicobar pigeons
1. Black Jade Winged Pigeon
Black-winged pigeons are often recommended as ornamental pigeons. Commonly known as white-winged pigeons, they are also called "jade wings" or "jade stripes." For this type of pigeon, the number of white feathers on both wings is generally considered to be excellent, with at least seven feathers on each wing; there is also a saying of "seven on the left and eight on the right," meaning there should be at least four white feathers. In addition, black-winged pigeons have a series of other characteristic requirements, including a round head, a prominent and large crest, a small and round beak, black grape-like eyes with bluish-white eyelids, and a well-proportioned body. Among them, the purple-winged pigeon, as a rare variety within the black-winged pigeon series, is even more valuable due to its superior quality.
2. Chinese Spotted Pigeons
Among domestic ornamental pigeons, the Spotted Pigeon enjoys a high reputation and is one of the most outstanding pigeons in my country. Compared with globally renowned pigeon breeds, the Spotted Pigeon is hailed as a representative of highly bred pigeons, and rightfully so. Its long history and outstanding performance set it apart. Spotted Pigeons are divided into five categories based on their physical characteristics: Black Spotted (all white with a black tail, black spots on the forehead, and a black beak with a white lower section); Purple Spotted (all white with a purple tail and purple spots on the forehead); Blue Spotted (all white with a blue tail and blue spots on the forehead); Iron-Winged Spotted (spotted with black wings); and Copper-Winged Spotted (spotted with purple wings).
3. Peacock Pigeon
The peacock pigeon, also known as the fantail pigeon, is a popular and easy-to-care-for ornamental pigeon. This breed has a long history, originating in India, and is now found in Asian countries as well as the UK, France, Germany, and the US, especially in Tianjin, China. The peacock pigeon typically has a saddle-shaped body, but its form varies depending on its origin. Through improvements by pigeon enthusiasts in the UK and the US, the peacock pigeon has become more upright and proud, with a fuller, more prominent chest, and its head tilted back close to its back, displaying a magnificent posture comparable to that of a peacock. Peacock pigeons are gentle in temperament, easy to raise, and adept at caring for chicks, making them highly sought after.
4. China Blue Pigeon
Among ornamental pigeons, some are often used for performances, and the Chinese Blue Pigeon is one of the most representative. With a history of over 700 years, it is one of China's famous ancient pigeon breeds. During imperial times, it was a beloved pet in the palace, used by palace maids, nobles, concubines, and eunuchs. It was frequently used for performances such as flying games, high-flying, and long-distance travel, and was extremely popular at the time. In modern competitions held by high-flying pigeon associations and endurance pigeon associations, the Chinese Blue Pigeon has consistently maintained its peak performance, flying cleanly and competing with other pigeon breeds, demonstrating its superior flying skills and proving itself to be in no way inferior to other breeds.
5. Somersault Pigeon
Among the top ten ornamental pigeons, the Somersault Pigeon is renowned for its exquisite somersaulting skills, just as its name suggests. As a pigeon with a long history, the Somersault Pigeon, though small in size, is physically robust and highly adaptable to its environment. Trained Somersault Pigeons are hailed as "masters of aerial artistry" when performing in the air. Upon hearing a signal from its breeder, the Somersault Pigeon will swiftly swoop down, performing several somersaults in succession. They can use themselves as a pivot, continuously tumbling and rotating, reaching a predetermined position before quickly taking off again to continue displaying graceful somersaults, showcasing their unique performing talent.
6. Black Soap Pigeon
When raising ornamental pigeons, which type is the best to choose? I personally highly recommend the Black Soap Pigeon, an ancient breed originating in my country. The Black Soap Pigeon is entirely black, relatively small in size, with a round head, short beak, and slightly raised nostrils. It comes in two types: black grape-like eyes and golden eyes. These pigeons possess exceptional memory, easily developing habits and even strong conditioned reflexes towards fixed feed, feeding and management plans, environmental conditions, and calling signals. They can quickly establish close bonds with their caregivers and memorize their words and actions. Furthermore, the Black Soap Pigeon has an extremely strong homing instinct; no matter how far they are released, they will always strive to return "home" as quickly as possible, demonstrating a strong sense of belonging. These qualities make the Black Soap Pigeon one of the most highly regarded breeds in ornamental pigeon breeding.
7. Nun Pigeon
The nun pigeon, also known as the nun's pigeon, is an easy-to-care-for ornamental pigeon. They are small, evenly grown, and entirely white, with various patterns on their head, beak, wing feathers, and tail feathers. Other colors, such as black, yellow, brown, and gray, can also be seen. Among them, the patterned black pigeons are considered the finest. They are gentle and friendly, enjoy being close to their owners, and often fly to their side, making them highly sought after and understandable. These pigeons do not need to be kept in cages and can roam freely.
8. Qilin Flower Pigeon
The Qilin Flower Pigeon is an exceptionally unique breed of pigeon with striking, vibrant colors. Its plumage is remarkably similar to the scales of the mythical Qilin, hence its name. Although classified as a homing pigeon, the Qilin Flower Pigeon is considered a beauty icon in the racing world, enjoying the same treatment as ornamental pigeons and being a top-quality racing pigeon. It typically has two variations: reddish-grey and blackish-grey. Using a pigeon with Qilin-patterned plumage as a parent, its offspring often exhibit distinct heritable characteristics, demonstrating a strong genetic predisposition; the Qilin-patterned plumage can often be seen in the next generation of young pigeons.
9. Lady Pigeon
Lady pigeons are highly sought-after ornamental pigeons in the market. Their gentle and lovable temperament, elegant and beautiful appearance, make them beloved by many pigeon enthusiasts. They enjoy extremely high recognition among pigeon fanciers and are the best-selling of all ornamental pigeons. Although their breeding ability is slightly insufficient, Lady pigeons have a high feed yield, thus their price in the ornamental pigeon market remains relatively stable.
10. Yuanbao Pigeon
The Yuanbao pigeon is also one of the easier-to-raise ornamental pigeon breeds. Its chest is rounded like a ball, giving it a broad and gentle appearance. Its gait is steady, but it is not a strong flyer. From a distance, its body shape resembles a "yuanbao" (ingot) V-shape, with a proud chest and head held high, and short, upturned tail feathers. These pigeons can even be raised freely in a small yard like chickens. They have strong disease resistance and are good at incubating their young. The downside is their low breeding rate. A good pair of Yuanbao pigeons should first and foremost have simple, uniform plumage and be in good spirits.
Three-toothed pigeon
